Richard “Dick” Martin, 84

October 12, 2025

Dick Martin was born, raised, and lived in Lancaster County all his life. He was the son of the late J. Everett and Edna Frey Martin and of the lineage of David Martin, 1727 Lancaster County pioneer settler. He graduated from Manheim Central High School in 1959 and immediately entered the U.S. Navy. He was honored to serve aboard the U.S.S. Boston, the world’s first guided missile cruiser, attaining the rate of Boatswain’s Mate 3rd class, deployed on Mediterranean, Caribbean, North Sea, and Arctic cruises during the Cold War period. He attended firefighting, assault coxswain, and cargo handling schools while enlisted. He served on 3” and 5” gun crews aboard ship. He was a U.S. Navy Blue Nose: Arctic Circle sailor.

He was employed at Quaker State Metals Company as a slab furnace operator in the hot mill department in the early 1960s. As the company grew and went through many name changes: Howe-Sound Aluminum, Howmet Aluminum, and Alumax Mill Products, Mr. Martin progressed into management. After 18 years in hot rolling, he was delegated to develop the in-house security department and eventually was promoted to manager of energy, safety, security, and environmental affairs. He helped develop the company’s first fire brigade and hazmat team. He testified before the Pennsylvania Utility Commission on two occasions in relation to the company’s natural gas and electric rate issues. Mr. Martin retired after 36 years of a very rewarding career with Alumax Mill Products, Inc.

In 1997, Mr. Martin became a partner in Lancaster Aluminum Company Ltd., a secondary aluminum smelter, which got its start in Lititz, PA, and later expanded operations in the Lebanon Valley Business Park, Lebanon County, PA. He served on the management staff there.

In 2005 he assumed the position of Safety & Environmental Manager for Lebanon Valley Aluminum LLC, a secondary aluminum smelter, retiring in 2007.

Dick was a member of the Penryn Fire Company, serving as a firefighter, engineer, treasurer, president, and assistant chief at various stages of his volunteer term there. He was a State Delegate to the first service convention. He attended county, state, and national fire schools, and the University of Maryland Fire and Rescue School. He completed many professional development training programs with the U.S. Coast Guard, PA State Police, Penn State University, Department of the Army, and the Federal Emergency Management Staff College. He was a qualified Hazmat Technician. Mr. Martin was honored with life membership after 25 years with the Penryn Fire Company. He served as emergency management coordinator for Penn Township, Lancaster County, PA, for 7 years and served on the Lancaster County emergency management staff during the same period.

He was a member of the Pennsylvania Pump Primers.

He was a member of the Lititz Moravian Congregation, serving on its archives committee.

He was a charter president of the Penn-Elm Area Lions Club, Penryn, PA.

He held memberships in the Lancaster County Firemen’s Association, the National Fire Protection Association, International Society of Fire Service Instructors, American Society for Industrial Security, American Society of Safety Engineers, and was qualified as a Crime Prevention Officer for the Pennsylvania Crime Watch Program. He was designated a founding member of the Department of Homeland Security by Secretary Tom Ridge.

Dick was a past member of the Susquehanna Yacht Club, Wrightsville, PA; the Bodkin Yacht Club, Pasadena, MD; and the Blue Marsh Sailing Association of Reading, PA. He was a 25-year member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, a member of the U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation, the U.S.S. Boston Shipmates, the Fleet Reserve Club, Annapolis, MD, and past ship’s writer for the Navy Club – Ship 166, of Lancaster County, PA. He was adjutant of American Legion Post 0419 in Manheim. Dick was a member of the “Sons of the Union Veterans of Civil War.” Mr. Martin proudly served with the Red Rose Veterans Honor Guard at over 300 veterans’ funeral honors services and volunteered time at Lebanon Veterans Medical Center.

His hobbies included reading, writing, sailing the Chesapeake with first mate, Connie, listening to music, researching history, and home remodeling. Being raised in the farming community, he became interested in viticulture and in the 1980s planted and managed a 2-acre vineyard, producing over 7 tons of French hybrid grapes annually for the local winemaking industry.

One of his proudest accomplishments was writing an autobiography and family ancestry for his children. He also wrote short stories about his sailing adventures on the Chesapeake Bay, the Intracoastal Waterway, and other short stories and satires. He authored and published books “When Yankee Doodle Came to Town”, an account of the military hospital established in Lititz, PA during the American Revolutionary War; “Penryn Fire Company: The First Hundred Years”, a history of the village of Penryn and fire company; and “The Ironmasters of Lancaster County.”

In the optimism of strength and a positive attitude, he and Connie experienced great joy in raising a family of energetic and responsible children.

He was married to the former Connie R. Gibble, daughter of the late James Gibble and Helen Demmy Gibble. He has three children: Shannon, married to Jeri Peters Martin, residing in Manheim, PA; Gail, married to Sean T. Warner, residing in West Chester, PA; and J. Vincent Martin, married to Raina Colton, residing in Summerville, SC. His nine grandchildren are: Ashley, son of Shannon and Jeri, and husband of Jennifer Martin; Kelsie, daughter of Shannon and Jeri, married to Chris Hess; and Reilly, Colin, Jack, and Princess Kelly, children of Gail and Sean; Reeni, designated angel of Gail and Sean; and Jay and Jude, sons of Vince and Raina. Great-grandsons: Hunter, Easton, Tanner, Dalton, and Brayden, sons of Ashley and Jennifer Martin; and Everett and Eddison, sons of Kelsie and Chris Hess.

A graveside service honoring Dick will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, November 1, 2025, at Penryn Cemetery, 1258 Newport Rd. Penryn, PA 17564. Memorial contributions may be made in his honor to the Penryn Fire Co., 1441 N. Penryn Rd. Manheim, PA 17564, the Lititz Moravian Church, Attn: Book of Remembrance, 8 Church Square, Lititz, PA 17543, or the Red Rose Veterans Honor Guard, Inc. P.O. Box 8601, Lancaster, PA 17604.